Changes

=== Russia ===

=== Russia ===

Russia and other nations in the Soviet Union regained their independence when the Union broke up.  One Russian predicted that the United States will also break up in a similar way.   

Russia and other nations in the Soviet Union regained their independence when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991.  One Russian then predicted that the United States will eventually break up in a similar way.   

Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power in the Soviet Union and in 1985 he promoted a new policy called “glasnost” or openness.  This ended decades of censorship by the communist dictators, and free speech began to work wonders.  Books could be published and churches could preach the Gospel.  He released some political prisoners.  Faced with a failing economy, Gorbachev adopted “perestroika”, which was a restructuring of the Soviet economy.  He permitted some ownership of private property, such as small businesses, farms and factories.

Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power in the Soviet Union and in 1985 he promoted a new policy called “glasnost” or openness.  This ended decades of censorship by the communist dictators, and free speech began to work wonders.  Books could be published and churches could preach the Gospel.  He released some political prisoners.  Faced with a failing economy, Gorbachev adopted “perestroika”, which was a restructuring of the Soviet economy.  He permitted some ownership of private property, such as small businesses, farms and factories.

But perhaps Providence intervened this time.  Boris Yeltsin, a charismatic Russian, emerged to challenge Gorbachev’s leadership.  Yeltsin had been a popular mayor of Moscow and was a powerful member of the parliament.  In June 1991, the voters elected Yeltsin as president of a new Russian Republic.

But perhaps Providence intervened this time.  Boris Yeltsin, a charismatic Russian, emerged to challenge Gorbachev’s leadership.  Yeltsin had been a popular mayor of Moscow and was a powerful member of the parliament.  In June 1991, the voters elected Yeltsin as president of a new Russian Republic.

Communists were angry and determined to stop Yeltsin’s challenge.  In August 1991, they ordered the soldiers to kill Yeltsin.  Providence must have intervened, because the troops refused the order.  Rarely do troops refuse orders.  In a communist country, such refusal was unheard of.  Gorbachev promptly resigned as head of the Communist Party, and then Latvia, Estonia and other Soviet republics declared their independence as Lithuania had.  On Christmas Day of 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union.

Communists were angry and determined to stop Yeltsin’s challenge.  In August 1991, they ordered the soldiers to kill Yeltsin.  Miraculously, the troops refused the order.  Rarely do troops refuse orders.  In a communist country, such refusal was unheard of.  Gorbachev promptly resigned as head of the Communist Party, and then Latvia, Estonia and other Soviet republics declared their independence as Lithuania had.  On Christmas Day of 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union.

By then, Russia and the other newly independent republics had formed a federation to replace the Soviet Union, known as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  All joined except for the Baltic republics and Georgia, a large former Soviet state not to be confused with the American state of Georgia.

By then, Russia and the other newly independent republics had formed a federation to replace the Soviet Union, known as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  All joined except for the Baltic republics and Georgia, a large former Soviet state not to be confused with the American state of Georgia.

After Gorbachev resigned, Yeltsin brought free enterprise to Russia.  He ended price controls, cut taxes, stopped subsidizing government-controlled industries and reduced trade barriers.  Churches opened and flourished.  The people of Leningrad changed the name of their city back to St. Petersburg.  Critics of Yeltsin complained about inflation and the loss of jobs, and organized crime became a problem without the KGB controlling everything.  But the Russian people were not going back to communism.  Today Russia has lower taxes than the United States.

After Gorbachev resigned, Yeltsin brought free enterprise to Russia.  He ended price controls, cut taxes, stopped subsidizing government-controlled industries and reduced trade barriers.  Churches opened and flourished.  The people of Leningrad changed the name of their city back to Saint Petersburg.  Critics of Yeltsin complained about inflation and the loss of jobs, and organized crime became a problem without the KGB controlling everything.  But the Russian people were not going back to communism.  Today Russia has lower taxes than the United States, and Russia has passed pro-life laws.  Christianity is growing there.

Muslim-dominated Chechnya in southwest Russia became a difficult issue for Yeltsin.  In 1991, it declared its independence from Russia, but Yeltsin suppressed that by sending troops to Grozny, its capital city.  Resistance by the Chechens was intense, and the troops were initially withdrawn.  But a bloody civil war has ensued for over a decade, including hostage-takings and, in 2004, the Chechen rebels seized a large school near Chechnya and killed over 300 of the children and teachers.

Muslim-dominated Chechnya in southwest Russia became a difficult issue for Yeltsin.  In 1991, it declared its independence from Russia, but Yeltsin suppressed that by sending troops to Grozny, its capital city.  Resistance by the Chechens was intense, and the troops were initially withdrawn.  But a bloody civil war has ensued for over a decade, including hostage-takings and, in 2004, the Chechen rebels seized a large school near Chechnya and killed over 300 of the children and teachers.